Confirmation bias

We have a tendency to confirm what we already believe.

Because of this, we only focus on finding confirming evidences, even though seeking evidences that will say otherwise is equally important.

This is dangerous for us, especially if what we believe is not a factual truth.

If w...

We are inclined to believe that complex solutions and explanations are better than simple ones. The perception of complexity often leads to avoidance.

What you can do about it:

• Instead of seeking to understand a concept fully,

Good stories are simple. 

And when they seem coherent, we accept them without activating our critical mind (see "Main cause of biased judgment" in this collection). 

In particular, the conspiracy theories have another viral weapon. As the ele...